Despite her ongoing divorce from Joey Lawrence, Samantha Cope has addressed the recent allegations that have surfaced. In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Cope, 37, responded to Lawrence’s claims that their marriage was “deeply troubled” and that his daughters, Charleston, 18, and Liberty, 14 (from his previous marriage to Chandie Yawn-Nelson), were not “accepted” by her.
“As a mother who cherishes her daughter above all, I find these accusations deeply concerning,” Cope stated. “I firmly believe that only Joey, myself, and God know the truth.” She added that her focus is on healing, caring for her daughter, and coming to terms with the end of her marriage and family life.
Lawrence’s separation from Cope reportedly improves his co-parenting dynamic with his ex-wife
Lawrence had previously described their marriage as “short-lived” and fraught with difficulties, stating that their differences became insurmountable. He also denied having a physical relationship with his Socked in for Christmas co-star Melina Alves, despite rumors.
On August 13, Cope filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences and requesting that neither party receive spousal support. She is also seeking full custody of their 19-month-old daughter, Dylan, with visitation for Lawrence at her discretion.
Following the divorce announcement, a family source told PEOPLE that Lawrence was allegedly involved in an affair with Alves. The source described their relationship as professional, noting that Lawrence showed empathy toward Alves, who was also going through a divorce.
Another source later indicated that Lawrence’s separation from Cope had positively impacted his relationships with his family and improved his co-parenting dynamic with Yawn-Nelson. “After the split, things significantly improved between him and his ex-wife and their daughters,” the source revealed. “Joey is resilient and faith-driven, but he remains disheartened by how things have unfolded.”
